JESSE Schofield has defied the taunts of bullies and become the first Australian junior black belt in eight directional martial arts.
The Boronia Heights teenager, 15, won the kata, power-breaking and sparring championship at the interstate Mulimpia Tournament at Regents Park in May.
Jesse will contest the Oceania Martial Arts title in September at Mansfield, competing against fighters from Mexico, Korea, Fiji and New Zealand.
The junior martial arts champion got involved in martial arts two years ago after numerous encounters with bullies.
Jesse’s mother, Susan Schofield contacted the Browns Plains Blue Light committee for support to fund martial arts training at Swordsmen Martial Arts.
Ms Schofield said the donation helped lay the foundation for Jesse’s transformation from a shy boy to a confident teenager.
“(Jesse) went from being bullied to being a completely different child,” Ms Schofield said.
“He is more confident now and you can see that in his training. Before he couldn’t walk down the road...that is why the police were involved.
“Jesse needed self-defence because I am not going to have my child living in fear.”
Swordsmen Martial Arts instructor Luke Walsh said Jesse’s determination and commitment to five days of training a week paid off.
“When Jesse first started he had no power and no coordination,” he said.
“Over the last couple of years he has progressed. He has power and he has coordination. He should be very proud of himself.”
Ms Schofield said her son was humble about his achievements and did not boast to his friends about what level he had reached.
Jesse aspires to reach black belt level across all fields of martial arts, including taekwondo.
He is open to opening his own business and training martial arts juniors in the future.
Swordsmen Martial Arts is based at Greenbank, Browns Plains and Logan Village.
